Eight Injured When Minivan Hits Utility Pole In Shady Rest

By Andrew Gorosko

Eight people, who were traveling in a minivan in the Shady Rest section on the afternoon of June 28, were injured when the vehicle went off the road and struck a utility pole.

The one-vehicle accident turned the normally calm residential neighborhood near Lake Zoar into a hive of activity with a large police, fire, and ambulance response. Seventeen Sandy Hook firefighters went to the scene, as did three volunteer ambulance crews.

It required three ambulances to transport the eight injured people to Danbury Hospital. Five of the eight victims were children.

Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead said that seven of the eight victims had already gotten out of the minivan by the time that firefighters arrived. Firefighters helped the remaining victim out of the vehicle, he said.

Police said motorist Marisol Puterbaugh, 33, of 1 Pine Street was driving a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan northward on Shady Rest Boulevard about 4 pm and was approaching a stop sign at that road’s intersection with Deer Trail, when she attempted to stop the vehicle, but could not do so.

The minivan then struck a utility pole along the right side of the road, police said.

Passengers in the minivan were: Josefina Puterbaugh, 54; Michael Puterbaugh, 1; Jamie Puterbaugh, 2; and Ashley Puterbaugh, 5, all of 1 Pine Street.

 Other passengers were: Jennifer Sorgenti, 22; Brittany Marra, 4; and Tony Joseph Marra, 5, all of 5 Todds Road.

A hospital spokeswoman said June 29 that none of the eight were patients at the hospital that day.

Following the crash, a Connecticut Light & Power crew went to the scene to repair the damage.

Police said the accident is under investigation.